Schema for interests and demographics profile for advanced broadcast services

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for a digital broadcast system comprises an operation of receiving and processing an electronic questionnaire from at least one service provider of the digital broadcast system by a receiver. For instance, the electronic questionnaire has a first data structure that, when processed by the receiver, generates for display a plurality of questions. Thereafter, the method comprises an operation of acquiring answers to the electronic questionnaire in the receiver. The answers are used in filtering content subsequently downloaded to the receiver.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A receiving device comprising:
 a tuner configured to receive a modulated input signal;   a demodulator configured to demodulate the input signal to produce an output stream;   a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the stream to produce content data;   a processor configured to receive user-entered preference information;   storage configured to store the preference information, the preference information including at least one preference value associated with identification information and a preference type, wherein   the processor controls output of the content data to the user in accordance with the stored preference information.   
     
     
         3 . The receiving device of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is configured to capture, match, or filter the content data based on the stored preference information. 
     
     
         4 . The receiving device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor controls the output of the content data using an Application Programming Interface (API) to access the stored preference information and control the output of the content data based on the accessed preference information. 
     
     
         5 . The receiving device of  claim 2 , wherein the preference information further includes expiration information indicating an expiration time or expiration date for at least one preference value included in the preference information. 
     
     
         6 . The receiving device of  claim 2 , wherein the preference information, including a prompt used to request the user to enter the preference information and a list of preference options associated with the prompt, are registered with a remote entity different from a provider of the content data. 
     
     
         7 . The receiving device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the stored preference information includes a default value when the user-entered preference information is not received by the processor,   the processor presents a prompt to the user to request the user to enter the preference information, the prompt including an ordered list of preference options, and   the stored preference information includes at least one channel associated with each preference value.   
     
     
         8 . A receiving method comprising:
 receiving a modulated input signal;   demodulating the input signal to produce an output stream;   demultiplexing the stream to produce content data;   receiving user-entered preference information;   storing the preference information, the preference information including at least one preference value associated with identification information and a preference type; and   controlling output of the content data to the user in accordance with the stored preference information.   
     
     
         9 . The receiving method of  claim 8 , wherein the controlling includes capturing, matching, or filtering the content data based on the stored preference information. 
     
     
         10 . The receiving method of  claim 8 , wherein the controlling includes using an Application Programming Interface (API) to access the stored preference information and controlling the output of the content data based on the accessed preference information. 
     
     
         11 . The receiving method of  claim 8 , wherein the preference information further includes expiration information indicating an expiration time or expiration date for at least one preference value included in the preference information. 
     
     
         12 . The receiving method of  claim 8 , wherein the preference information, including a prompt used to request the user to enter the preference information and a list of preference options associated with the prompt, are registered with a remote entity different from a provider of the content data. 
     
     
         13 . The receiving method of  claim 8 , wherein
 the stored preference information includes a default value when the user-entered preference information is not received by the receiving,   the method further comprises presenting a prompt to the user to request the user to enter the preference information, the prompt including an ordered list of preference options, and   the stored preference information includes at least one channel associated with each preference value.   
     
     
         14 . A transmitting device comprising:
 a multiplexer configured to generate a multiplexed signal by multiplexing plural content data streams, at least one of the content data streams associated with preference information;   a transmitter configured to transmit the multiplexed signal to a receiving device, wherein   the receiving device is configured to control output of at least one of the plural content data streams associated with user-selected preference information stored in the receiving device.   
     
     
         15 . The transmitting device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the content data streams is associated with the preference information using an Application Programming Interface (API). 
     
     
         16 . The transmitting device of  claim 14 , wherein the preference information, including a prompt used by the receiving device to request the user to enter the preference information and a list of preference options associated with the prompt, are registered with a remote entity different from a provider of the content data. 
     
     
         17 . The transmitting device of  claim 14 , wherein
 at least one of the content data streams is associated with a default preference value, which is output by the receiving device when the user-entered preference information is not stored in the receiving device, and   the preference information stored in the receiving device includes at least one channel associated with each preference value and the multiplexed signal includes at least one content data stream corresponding to the at least one channel associated with at least one preference value.   
     
     
         18 . A transmitting method comprising:
 generating a multiplexed signal by multiplexing plural content data streams, at least one of the content data streams associated with preference information;   transmitting the multiplexed signal to a receiving device, wherein   the receiving device is configured to control output of at least one of the plural content data streams associated with user-selected preference information stored in the receiving device.   
     
     
         19 . The transmitting method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the content data streams is associated with the preference information using an Application Programming Interface (API). 
     
     
         20 . The transmitting method of  claim 18 , wherein the preference information, including a prompt used by the receiving device to request the user to enter the preference information and a list of preference options associated with the prompt, are registered with a remote entity different from a provider of the content data. 
     
     
         21 . The transmitting method of  claim 18 , wherein
 at least one of the content data streams is associated with a default preference value, which is output by the receiving device when the user-entered preference information is not stored in the receiving device, and   the preference information stored in the receiving device includes at least one channel associated with each preference value and the multiplexed signal includes at least one content data stream corresponding to the at least one channel associated with at least one preference value.